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Joyful News

It was a dreary and rainy day, but that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits.  For the monks of Conception Abbey, it was a joyful day.  Not only were we able to celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord, but this morning we also received a new member to our monastic community.

Luke Downing (Wichita, Kansas) was received as a postulant this morning.  The brief ceremony involved his knocking on the monastery door and being received by the Abbot.  Since the monastery is being renovated, Luke knocked on the Basilica front door where he was addressed by Abbot Gregory.  After his words of welcome and instruction, they went to the Blessed Sacrament chapel to pray.

Later, he was given to the care of the Novice-Junior Master, Br. Bernard, and was clothed with the tunic.

What a joyful an exciting day for our community!  God continues to bless us with good candidates for our community.

In other news, I was walking across campus when I saw Novice Eric doing his afternoon routine delivering the mail on campus.  But, I noticed that his mother was visiting and she came along for the ride and helped him carry these boxes into the seminary building.  It is wonderful when family come to visit the monks!